Unveiling Adaptive Molecular Mechanisms Through Comparative Proteomics of Potato Cell Responses to Abrupt and Gradual Water Deficits

ABSTRACT: Osmotic stress, such as drought and salinity, impairs plant growth, productivity, and food quality. Plants cope with these stresses by modulating biological processes and molecular mechanisms based on the stress intensity and duration. Understanding how plants respond and adapt at the molecular level is crucial for developing tolerant genotypes capable of surviving and produce in harsh conditions. The cultivated potato Solanum tuberosum is the most important non-grain crop worldwide and is often considered water deficit sensitive, thus necessitating efforts to enhance their resilience. Previously, we established a reliable in vitro model using potato suspension cells to simulate sudden (shock) or gradual adaptation to water deficit. Our previous researches revealed distinct cellular and molecular responses between shocked and adapted cells. In this study, we utilized mass spectrometry-based proteomics to examine protein expression in order to capture novel functional information and identify regulatory networks during gradual adaptation compared to abrupt water stress. Remarkably, both adapted and shocked conditions triggered significant alterations in protein expression related to various metabolic pathways, including carbon metabolism, osmotic regulation, and antioxidant defense. However, adapted cells exhibited increased levels of proteins associated with fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism, underscoring the importance of fatty acids in regulating potato cell adaptation to water deficit. Furthermore, we identified proteins involved in transcriptional and translational machinery, as well as chromatin organization, which were specifically expressed in adapted cells. This suggests a pivotal role for epigenetic changes, warranting further investigation. Importantly, our findings present a valuable list of candidate proteins for future functional analysis to elucidate their roles in plant stress response and adaptive mechanisms.

INSTRUMENT(S): Q Exactive

ORGANISM(S): Solanum Tuberosum (potato)

TISSUE(S): Cell Culture

SUBMITTER: Sara Ceccacci  

LAB HEAD: Maria Chiara Monti

PROVIDER: PXD050665 | Pride | 2024-12-06

REPOSITORIES: Pride